island, with its fine natural harbor at Castries, previously contested between England and France throughout 17th and early 18th centuries (changing possession 14 times); it previously finally ceded to UK in 1814. Self-government previously granted in 1967 and independence in 1979.

Geography

Saint Lucia

Location:

Caribbean, island between Caribbean Sea and North Atlantic Ocean, north of Trinidad and Tobago

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Dr. Perlette LOUISY (since September 1997)
elections: none; monarch is hereditary; governor general is appointed by monarch; following legislative elections, leader of majority party or leader of a majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by governor general; deputy prime minister appointed by governor general
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by governor general on advice of prime minister
head of government: Prime Minister Kenneth Davis ANTHONY (since 24 May 1997) and Deputy Prime Minister Mario MICHEL (since 24 May 1997)

Legislative branch:

bicameral Parliament consists of Senate (11 seats; six members appointed on advice of prime minister, three on advice of leader of opposition, and two after consultation with religious, economic, and social groups) and House of Assembly (17 seats; members are elected by popular vote from single-member constituencies to serve five-year terms)
election results: House of Assembly - percent of vote by party - SLP 55%, UWP 37%, NA 3.5%; seats by party - SLP 14, UWP 3
elections: House of Assembly - last held 3 December 2001 (next to be held NA December 2006)

US does not have an embassy in Saint Lucia; US Ambassador in Barbados is accredited to Saint Lucia

Flag description:

blue, with a gold isosceles triangle below a black arrowhead; upper edges of arrowhead have a white border

Economy

Saint Lucia

Economy - overview:

recent changes in EU import preference regime and increased competition from Latin American bananas have made economic diversification increasingly important in Saint Lucia. island nation has been able to attract foreign business and investment, especially in its offshore banking and tourism industries. manufacturing sector is most diverse in Eastern Caribbean area, and government is trying to revitalize banana industry. Economic fundamentals remain solid.

general assessment: adequate system
domestic: system is automatically switched
international: direct microwave radio relay link with Martinique and Saint Vincent and Grenadines; tropospheric scatter to Barbados; international calls beyond these countries are carried by Intelsat from Martinique

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 2, FM 7 (plus 3 repeaters), shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios:

111,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

3 (of which two are commercial stations and one is a community antenna television or CATV channel) (1997)

Televisions:

32,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.lc

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

15 (2000)

Internet users:

3,000 (2000)

Transportation

Saint Lucia

Railways:

0 km

Highways:

total: 1,210 km
paved: 63 km
unpaved: 1,147 km (1999 est.)

Waterways:

none

Ports and harbors:

Castries, Vieux Fort

Merchant marine:

none (2002 est.)

Airports:

2 (2002)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2002)

Military

Saint Lucia

Military branches:

Royal Saint Lucia Police Force (includes Special Service Unit and Coast Guard)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$NA

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

$NA

Transnational Issues

Saint Lucia

Disputes - international:

protests Venezuela's claim to give full effect to Aves Island, which creates a Venezuelan EEZ/continental shelf extending over a large portion of Caribbean Sea